1st 250 cards Flashcards
What is a “project”?
It is a temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result.
What are “operations”?
These deal with day-to-day work of a business.
What is “process elaboration”?
This involves discovering great levels of detail as the project moves toward completion.
What is “project management”?
It is the application of knowledge skills, tools, and techniques to meet the project requirements. It’s about managing people to accomplish the scope of the project in the given constraints of time and costs.
All projects are limited as to time, cost, and scope.
What is a “predictive project”?
This is a traditional waterfall or plan-driven project. Much of the planning has been done up-front at the beginning of the project, and the rest of the project would be to execute the plan to complete actual work.
What is a “agile project”?
This is known as adaptive or change-driven, where the product is built in small increments versus being built all at once as one would with a traditional project.
The agile project allows more customer interactions as small increments are being built. Agile projects also support changes throughout the project, allowing customers to add requirements without having to go through a change management process as you would on a traditional project.
What is a “hybrid project”?
This is when an organization combines the use of both predictive and agile methods for managing projects.
What is the value of projects?
Projects are performed to derive value from the output of that project. Value can be tangible such as money, or intangible such as brand reputation.
What is “ITTO”?
Input, Tools and Techniques, and Output.
What is a “phase”?
A phase is a division within the project where extra control is needed to effectively manage the completion of one or more deliverables.
What are the 5 phases of a project?
1) Initiating
2) Planning
3) Executing
4) Monitoring and Controlling
5) Closing
What is a “deliverable”?
a part of the product that is presented to the customer or stakeholders for acceptance.
What is a “process group”?
It is a set of processes that a project manager that might do at a certain time.
What is a “knowledge area”?
This is a certain set of processes that are usually defined by the knowledge needed to manage that area.
What are the “knowledge areas” of project management? (10 of them)
1) Integration
2) Scope
3) Schedule
4) Cost
5) Quality
6) Resources
7) Communications
8) Risk
9) Procurement
10) Stakeholders
What is a “development life cycle”?
These are the phases that a project will go through start to finish.
What are the 3 different kinds of project types?
1) Predictive - where scope, time, and cost are known early in the project.
2) Iterative, incremental, or adaptive - when the scope is known early, but the time and cost will be refined as the project is progressing.
3) hybrid - some parts are known prior to the start of the project; other parts are developed incrementally.
What is a “program”?
It is a collection of projects containing a common goal managed by a program manager.
What is a “portfolio”?
It is a collection of projects and programs that are implemented to achieve a strategic business goal.
What are the 3 basic baselines of all projects?
Scope, time, and cost.
What is a “baseline”?
It is an original plan plus any approved changes.
How do we calculate the “status” of a project?
We compare what is currently happening on a project versus the baseline, and looking for differences.
What are “historical information”?
These are things that are learned from previous projects.
What are “lessons learned”?
Looking at past projects, we could learn lessons.
What are “regulations”?
These are official documents that provide guidelines that must be followed - like regulatory compliance.
What is a “standard”?
It is a practice or process that is recognized by another body, like the PMI for project management.
What is a “system”?
A system includes all formal procedures and tools put in place to manage something. Systems allow us to have formal procedures
What is “project governance”?
This is the framework, functions, and processes that a company will follow in order to complete a project.
No two organizations have the exact same framework when it comes to project management / everyone has their own style.
What is the PMO?
The PMO provides guidance and support for all project managers in the company.
To ensure that all projects follow the same rules.
Define the PM role.
What is a “stakeholder”?
This is any individual or business that may be positively or negatively affected by the whole project.
Why is “organizational structure” important?
This helps determine power and authority level of the project manager in an organization.
What is the project manager’s role in a simple or organic organization?
In a simple organization, the role of project manager doesn’t really exist because each person wears so many hats.
What is the project manager’s role in a virtual organization?
This is where project management is done virtually using different types of computer technology, such as virtual meetings or chats.
Authority of PM is low, and role is part- or full-time.
What is the project manager’s role in a functional organization?
PM has little power over resources.
Controlled and managed by a functional manager.
PM reports to the functional manager.
PM is completed part-time outside of primary job role.
What is the project manager’s role in a project-oriented organization?
PM controls all resources.
PM is full-time.
In a consulting business, PM will hire resources, in charge of everything until project is completed.
What is the project manager’s role in a matrixes organization?
Mix between functional and project-oriented org. 3 types.
What are 3 types of matrix org?
1) Weak - PM has little power, managed by functional manager, parti-time.
2) Balanced - PM equal in power to functional manager, FT position, PM and personal leave their jobs to complete project, then released when project done.
3) Strong - PM has power over resources, FT role, functional manager has very little power. *** what exam focuses on.
What is the project manager’s role in a hybrid organization?
Where a company uses a multitude of different organizational structures.
What is the 6 possible “constraints”?
1) scope
2) time
3) risk
4) quality
5) resources
6) customer Satisfaction.
What is a “product life cycle”?
The project cycles (aka process groups) a project goes through along to completion.
What is a “project life cycle”?
The phases that a project goes through from initiating the project to its closing.
Is the breakdown of the work needed to complete the deliverable (aka organizational methodology for managing projects.)
What is “project success”?
This is measured by finishing a project within the given limitations of scope, cost, time, quality, and resources.
49 management processes?
just memorize them!
What is the “initiating” process group?
This is getting the authorization to actually start that phase or project. There are 2 processes
What is the “planning” process group?
Planning is done after the project has been initiated.
What is the “executing” process group?
This is about actually getting the project work done; often requires the most time and resources to complete.
What is the “monitoring and controlling” process group?
This ensures that the project stays on the plan. It is about measuring, inspecting, monitoring, verifying, reviewing, and comparing the actual work to the planned work.
Some steps during the monitoring and controlling process (about 8)?
1) checking in on the project.
2) Check to make sure quality requirements are met.
3) Controlling risk
4) Ensure vendors are completing work as stated in agreements.
5) Ensure stakeholders are engaged.
6) PM making corrections of internal deviations.
7) Get deliverables formally accepted
8) Manage changes to ensure approved or denied.
What is the “closing” group?
This happens after the customer or sponsor has accepted the deliverables. Then contracts can be closed out and lessons learned documented.
What are “Enterprise Environmental Factors” (EEF)? (7 of them)
These are factors not under the control of the organization like
1) Organizational structure
2) Government or industry standards
3) Infrastructure (facilities / equipment)
4) Staff and the way company manages them
5) Stakeholder’s risk tolerances
6) Company work authorization systems
7) IT software to manage project.
What are “Organization Process Assets (OPA)”? (9 things of value)
Plans, policies, procedures, processes, and knowledge bases used by an org.
1) Previous project plans
2) Templates
3) Historial information
4) Lessons learned
5) knowledge bases
6) Software tools
7) Organization procedures and policies
8) Project management databases
9) project files from previous projects.
What are “project documents”?
These are any documents that are related to the project.
What is the “project management plan”?
This defines how the project is executed, monitored and controlled, and closed.
What is “expert judgment”?
Using an expert or SME to help plan a process or effect a process.
What is “data gathering”?
This is gathering data about a process.
What are the 5 ways of gathering data?
1) Brainstorming - bring together a group of stakeholders to get ideas and analyse them; usually facilitated by a PM.
2) Interviews - Gathering data from a particular group of stakeholders.
3) Focus groups - Bringing together subject matter experts to understand their perspectives and how they would go about solving problems.
4) Checklist - helpful for stakeholders to identify items wanted or not wanted on a project or success criteria
5) Questionnaires and surveys - a general list of questions to better understand something a process.
What are 4 types of data analysis?
ARVT
1) Alternative analysis - Comparing different options.
2) Root cause analysis (RCA) - figuring out the underlying cause of an event
3) Variance analysis - Finding the exact difference between different things.
4) Trend analysis - Looking at data over a period of time to find a pattern.
What is “data representation”?
How data can be shown / presented to stakeholders.
What are 3 tools in decision making?
1) Voting - taking a poll (majority wins, unanimity, plurality)
2) Multicriterion decision analysis - evaluation based on a grid.
3) Autocratic - one person decides for all.
What are 4 types of interpersonal and team skills? (Like in meetings)
1) Active listening - understanding, acknowledging, and clarifying
2) Conflict management - facilitating working together.
3) Facilitation - bringing a group together, generating ideas, solving problems, and dissolving the team.
4) Meeting management - having an agenda, inviting stakeholders, setting time limit, following up with minutes and action items.
What is a “Project Management Information System (PMIS)”?
Automated system used to help PM optimize schedule, documents, and deliverables.
Includes work authorization and configuration management systems.
What is a “work authorization system”?
used to ensure work gets done in the right order at the right time.
What is a “configuration management system”?
To ensure the product has the right settings and configuration.
5 points to having meetings be effective?
1) Having an agenda and giving it to all attendees before the meeting.
2) Timed, having hard start and finish times.
3) Staying on topic.
4) Ensuring all attendees have input.
5) Distribute minutes after meetings.
What is a “change request”?
It is a request to fix an anomaly of the project so it stays on plan.
What is a “corrective action”?
It is an action to ensure that project stays on track.
What is “work performance data”?
Raw data, status of the work of the project. This report is generated from the executing phase.
What is “work performance information”?
Information about the work that was performed compared to the plan. It gives the actual status of the deliverables. This report is generated from the monitoring and controlling phase.
What is a “work performance report”?
This is the overall status report of the actual project, one comprehensive document. This report is generated from the monitoring and controlling phase. Data > Info > Report (for exam).
What are “updates”?
These are any approved changes to the project management plan and or its deliverables.
What is the project manager’s role?
They are in charge of managing the project team to complete the project work and deliver the final product, service, or result for the business.
What is the project management talent triangle?
1) technical project management
2) Strategic and business mangement
3) leadership
What is “technical project management skills?
These are the skills that are related to the domains of the work on a project. It is the components of all the things a project manager does.
What are “strategic and business management skills”?
These relate to making decisions that will benefit the business. This is also understanding the mission of the business and strategy needed to complete that mission.
What is meant by “leadership” in project management?
1) Negotiating
2) Communicating, managing relationships, stakeholders
3) Solving Problems, prioritizing work, critical thinking
4) Good Interpersonal Skills
& learning continuously
What is the difference between leadership and management?
Management = directing people to get work done and maintaining what is there already. This is about controlling people. Focusing on solving problems.
Leadership = guiding and influencing people to accomplish a certain task while simultaneously developing new processes and procedures. This is about inspiring people. Focus on motivating and creating vision.
What are 6 leadership styles?
1) Laissez-Faire - hands off, team makes their own decision.
2) Transactional - focused on goals and rewards.
3) Servant Leaders - focused on removing obstacles (agile)
4) Transformational - empowering and motivating team
5) Charismatic - high energy, very enthusiastic, people follow easily
6) Interactional - combo of two.
What is the difference between a traditional project and an agile project from a customer and stakeholder perspective.
Traditional = deliverable is presented to stakeholders after a long executable process.
Agile = deliverable is presented to stakeholders after each phase allowing feedback.
What are the 4 principles of the “Agile Manifesto”?
1) people OVER processes and tools
2) Working software OVER comprehensive documentation.
3) collaboration OVER negotiation.
4) change managemet OVER following a plan.
What are the 12 Agile principles?
CCFCIFSDSESSoR
1) CUSTOMER satisfaction by early and continuous delivery of software.
2) Welcome CHANGE requirements at any stage.
3) Delivery working software FAST.
4) Daily COOPERATION between business stakeholders and developers.
5) Projects built by motivated INDIVIDUALS who are trusted.
6) Face-to-FACE is best communication.
7) Working SOFTWARE is primary measuring stick.
8) Sustainable DEVELOPMENT at constant pace.
9) Continuous attention to technical EXCELENCE and good design.
10) Make it SIMPLE.
11) Best work emerge from SELF-ORGANIZING teams.
12) Reflection is key.
Who determines what is best or what should be worked on in an Agile project?
The team members themselves. The project manager just facilitates. Teams make decisions and resolve conflicts amongst themselves.
What is a “stand-up”?
It is a daily meeting among agile team members to decide on the process for the day.
In Agile, who is the “product owner”?
The designated person that represents the customer on the project.
In Agile, what is the function of the project manager?
They facilitate.
In Agile, what is a “product backlog”?
Project requirements from the customers.
In Agile, what is a “sprint planning meeting”?
Meeting done by Agile team to determine what features will be done in the next sprint.
In Agile, what is a “sprint backlog”?
The work the team selects to get done in the next sprint.
In agile, what is a “sprint”?
A short iteration where the project teams work to complete the work in the sprint backlog (1-4 weeks typically).
In Agile, what is a “sprint review”?
An inspection done at the end of the sprint by the customers.
In Agile, what is “retrospective”?
Meeting done to determine what went wrong during the sprint and what went right. It is basically “lessons learned”.
What is a “release”?
Several sprints worth of work ending in rollout and testing.
In Agile, who prioritizes the product backlog?
ONLY the product owner.
During a sprint, should team members change?
No.
What is “grooming the backlog”?
It is re-prioritizing a product backlog whenever new customer requests are added to it. New features requested are not automatically inserted at the bottom of the list. Also features may be dropped that were previously thought as important, by the new features.
What are the 6 main principles of XP Agile process?
SIOPOD
SIOPOT
1) Sprint
2) Iterations
3) Owner known as customer.
4) Pair-programming
5) O: co-Ownership
6) D: Test-driven Fevelopment.
What is “pair programming” in XP / Scrum Agile?
When 2 developers sit at the same computer, collaborate and review each other’s work.
What is “collective code ownership” in XP / Scrum Agile?
Where any developer can improve the code, allows for general consensus of the code.
What is “test-driven development” in XP / Scrum Agile?
The tests that the code needs to pass at the end are delivered first and then the code is written to match the tests.
What are the 7 principles of Agile Lean development?
WEFOQLD
1) Eliminate Waste
2) Empower the team
3) Deliver Fast
4) Optimize the whole
5) Build quality in
6) Amplify learning
7) Defer decisions
In Lean Agile, what is “eliminate waste”?
To maximize value, eliminate work partially done, delays, handoffs, unnecessary features, waiting, defects, and management activities.